Some Background...

Back in 2016, the Republican majority U.S. Senate chose not to hold confirmation hearings for Merrick Garland, which is legal since the Constitution does not prescribe standards for a timeline for when “the Advice and Consent of the Senate” would be applied to Presidential Supreme Court nominees (just as it does not prescribe the count of Supreme Court justices).  Democrats, of course, wanted a Democratic jurist on the Supreme Court immediately.  They had, after all, been underrepresented for almost 50 years.  If Democrats had to wait until after the 2016 election, a Republican could win the Presidency and nominate another Republican to the Supreme Court.

"The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president," Senator Mitch McConnell famously said at the time.  And so, Merrick Garland was never considered.

Fast forward to now.  The situation has flipped as has Senator Mitch McConnell’s perspective saying, "President Trump's nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”

Perhaps I’m naïve, but in the interest of fairness, President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg should be given the same consideration as President Barack Obama’s nominee in 2016, Merrick Garland; which is to say, none (at least not yet).

We are 45 days away from the election and 123 days away from Inauguration Day.  Regardless of who the President is it will be their prerogative to nominate who they feel will best serve our nation.  The people will have spoken.

It is heartening to see all the support that we’ve received so far.  And when I say we, “we” truly is “us.”

Today, Vermont Governor Rick Scott wrote of Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

“While it is important to take the time to mourn her passing, we must also follow precedent, as well as her dying wishes, and delay the appointment process until after Inauguration Day.” – Governor Phil Scott.

I know a petition from some web site isn’t going to change the course of history, but it is an easy way for one’s voice to be heard, if ever so quietly.  To that end, might I ask a favor… If you agree with this petition it would be immensely helpful if you would share it.  I posted on Facebook for the first time in over three years when I started this petition.  It is that important. 

I hope I didn’t Jerry Maguire this up too much.

Thank you all!

~Bill